Across genres, 2016 has been a great year for music. From
rap and R&B to punk, rock and pop, there have been so many incredible songs
that have come out in the past year that it is hard to remember all of them.
As Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’ s top music outlet, looks
back at the music of 2016, we wanted to acknowledge some of this year’s
outstanding songs. Our writer has collected a list of 10 songs that she has enjoyed
throughout the year. Touching on indie rock, pop punk, soul and hip hop, check
out some of the best songs 2016 had to offer.
1.
Hamilton Leithauser and Rostam, “A 1000 Times”: The
first single from former Walkmen singer Hamilton Leithauser and Vampire Weekend
multi-instrumentalist Rostam Batmanglij, “A Thousand Times” is an indie rock
charm that builds slowly-and-steadily. It doesn’t take much to like this song;
its lyrics are simple and its chorus is repetitive and catchy. (video)
2.
The XX, “On Hold”: After a couple of listens,
this song really grew on me. I love the back and forth the male and female
singers have lyrically, like a doomed conversation between two people who were
once in love. The pain in the male’s words and voice in particular gives this
song a lot of depth. (video)
3.
Twenty One Pilots, “Heathens”: This song was
everywhere this year after it came out as a single from the ‘Suicide Squad’
soundtrack. Twenty One Pilots has this amazing ability to write unique and
catchy music that not only found itself a place in rock music, but in pop as
well. (video)
4.
Green Day, “Still Breathing”: The third single
from Green Day’s new album, ‘Revolution Radio,’ “Still Breathing” is a little
like “Wake Me up When September Ends” all over again. One of the most personal
songs on the album, it is deep and introspective, most likely about singer
Billie Joe Armstrong’s drug addiction and recovery. The lyrics deliver the
message that even though all of these things have happened; he’s come out on
the other side alive. What a great sentiment for this time of year and the
crazy year we have all had. (video)
5.
Tegan and Sara, “Boyfriend”: What stands out
most about “Boyfriend,” the first single from Tegan and Sara’s latest album ‘Love
You To Death,’ besides its 80s synth-pop feel, is the sister duo’s lyrical
delivery. The song finds the singer talking to her secret girlfriend who won’t
admit that they are a couple to the public. When the sisters sing “and trust me
like a… like a very best friend,” they pause before saying “very best friend,”
and that drama just says everything about the mood and motive of that song. (video)
6.
Solange, “Cranes in the Sky”: The first time I
heard this song on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ it was mesmerizing. The song is beautiful;
so soulful and on-point. It’s no wonder people have been talking about the song
and album since it came out in October. (video)
7.
A Tribe Called Quest, “We the People”: Another
song that I heard on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ “We The People” is the first single
the hip hop group has released in 18 years and their last with founding member
Phife Dawg. The track perfectly captures the political atmosphere of today and
concisely presents it with a catchy back beat and chorus. (video)
8.
David Bowie, “Lazarus”: This song plays like a
retrospective of David Bowie’s life, which makes it even more ominous knowing
that he would pass away just days later. Its steady tempo and hefty lyrical
content make the song one of his best, but also one of his heaviest. (video)
9.
Weezer, “King of the World”: Weezer have finally
gotten their groove back. After putting out a terrific album in 2014, ‘Everything
Will Be Alright In The End,’ they followed it up this year with another
self-titled album (the White Album) and “King of the World,” it’s second
single. Dreaming up what it would be
like if the narrator was in control, instead of being tied down by everyone
else, “King of the World” continues the band’s return to the self-depreciating
lyrics and biting wit. (video)
10.
Leonard Cohen, “You Want It Darker”: This song
haunted me for weeks after it was released, and not because it came out only
weeks before Cohen passed away. The way he used the word “Hineni,” which
translates from Hebrew to “Here I Am,” and cantor-al melodies in the chorus gives
the song a whole new level of darkness on top of its minimal instrumentation
and other really dark lyrics. But that insistence on making you think about it
long after hearing it is what makes this song so good. (video)
As 2016 comes to a close, it’s nice to take a look back at
all the great music that artists have released over the last 12 months. These 10
tracks only skim the surface of the year’s best songs. Use this list as a
jumping off point for your own best of 2016 list.
Start the new year off right by checking out music from most
of these artists and more at Long Island’s hottest new independent record shop,
Vinyl Bay 777. Shop in-store and online (vinylbay777.com) from our selection of
new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVDs and memorabilia. We have thousands of
titles to choose from and new ones are being added all the time.
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